Songhua

Songhua (sōngˈhwäˈ) [key] or Sungari sŏnˈgäˈrēˈ, river of NE China, c.1,150 mi (1,850 km) long, rising in the Changbai Mts., Jilin prov., and flowing generally north, through Heilongjiang prov., to the Amur River on the China-Russia border. It is the northernmost river system in China and forms a main gateway to the S Manchurian plain. The Songhua, which passes the cities of Jilin and Harbin, is navigable for most of its length, and it is an important trade artery in a rich agricultural region. Fengman Dam (completed 1946) was built by the Japanese above Jilin and forms a huge reservoir.